Bahamas Travel Guide: Scuba Diving, Hotels and Restaurants

Getting in the Swim

The Bahamas, Bonaire, Belize—all great dive destinations—give reef lovers choices. Scuba divers have access to the outer fore reef, but a swimmer with snorkel and fins can see much of the shallow back reefs, as can anyone who simply opts for a glass-bottom boat tour.

Prices are for December 2012, which is high season, and rates for dives and tours are per person.

A reef 300 yards offshore keeps the water calm for swimming off the beach at Tippy's Restaurant, near Governor's Harbour. Her swimsuit by VPL, $185.

Where to Dive

Long, slim Eleuthera has a sheltered western coast, where clear water and safe waves allow even newcomers to explore a reef and swimmers to paddle with abandon. Dive shops on Harbour Island, including Ocean Fox, will take you into the shipwreck-filled waters to the north. Go south to Davis Harbour and Ocean Fox will get you to the flourishing Exuma wall, a skyscraper of coral (242-333-2323; dives from $99 with a four-person minimum).

Creature comforts abound in Harbour Island, at the northern tip of Eleuthera, a Martha's Vineyard with warm water. The romantic, adults-only 1 Rock House Hotel has ten rooms, a pool, and the best views (242-333- 2053; doubles from $300). The old-school 2 Tingum Village Hotel is more basic (242-333-2161; doubles from $100). Governor's Harbour, mid island, has a low-key vibe and beaches on all sides. Renting houses is common here: 3 Pineapple Fields has 32 well-equipped condos and a pink-sand beach (242-332-2221; one-bedroom condos from $220). On a breezy hilltop, the 4 Cigatoo Resort, a Quality Inn, has a lush setting and a white picket fence (242-332-3060; doubles from $119).

1 Dunmore Deli, on Harbour Island, makes legendary sandwiches and salads for the golf-cart set (King St.; sandwiches from $11). Mid island, across from Pineapple Fields, 2 Tippy's has some of the best food in the Bahamas (242-332-3331; entrées from $20). The fastest food in slow-mo Governor's Harbour is a burger at the snack bar of the 3 Globe Princess Theater, on the south side of the harbor (burgers from $2).